Mustangs win leaves coach disappointed

WOODSTOCK — A coach uttered words such as “embarrassed” and “disappointed” after the Putnam Science Academy boys basketball team defeated Hyde-Woodstock, 81-73, on Monday.

It was the winning coach, Tom Espinosa, who said it. The Mustangs (6-1) fended off a number of rallies, hit free throws down the stretch and handed the Wolfpack (3-1) their first loss of the season on the road. The standards are being held mighty high in Putnam, where the Wolfpack think they are capable of competing for a national prep championship.

“I’m very disappointed in our team, the effort, the attitude,” Espinosa said. “I’m totally embarrassed. We have a lot of work to do. They went through the motions (Monday) and a lot of guys didn’t have confidence shooting the ball. I don’t know what happened (Monday), but I’m very frustrated and they’re not going to play like that again, I can tell you that.”

Putnam Science won big — by at least 30 points — in a scrimmage on Hyde’s first day of winter athletics. Maybe the Mustangs were expecting a cakewalk again Monday, but they didn’t get it. After trailing by 11 points at the half, Hyde center Kenny Grant (12 points) converted a three-point play 12 minutes, 3 seconds to play to pull the Wolfpack within four, 53-49.

Putnam Science’s guards extended the lead back to 10 in less than a minute. Anthony Durham (27 points) made a tough shot in traffic and converted on the foul shot to extend the lead to 59-49. Before the Wolfpack could cut into the deficit again, Grant, who scored 11 of his 12 in the second half, fouled out.

Game-high

Dexter Thompson (a game-high 28 points) kept Hyde in the game, cutting the lead to 72-66 with 2:23 to play, but Durham made sure it didn’t get any closer. With 1:26 to play he dribbled into the lane from the left side and threw down a dunk over three Hyde players. It was one of many high-flying acts to take place in the Woodstock gymnasium.

“The biggest difference right now is the depth,” Hyde coach Thomas Bragg said when comparing the teams. “They have a great athletic team and I thought we came in there pretty well with them. I think if we had one or two more pieces off the bench to come in and relieve, I think we could make something even more happen. I’m very proud of this team.”

Espinosa isn’t the only one setting the bar high for the Mustangs.

“We didn’t come out and play our best game,” Durham said. “It’s a good win, but it’s not to our standards.”

Attempting a move

The Hyde-Putnam Science rivalry might get even more interesting next season. Putnam Science is currently an independent, meaning it doesn’t play out of a conference, but the school has been attempting to get into the New England Prep School Athletic Council conference, where Hyde currently plays. According to Espinosa, in April a committee will visit the school and make a decision on whether to let Putnam Science into the conference. The Mustangs could be there by the fall of 2014. Putnam Science also offers soccer, golf, tennis, baseball and cross-country.

“Our other programs aren’t as high up as our basketball program — they can’t play for New England’s so they can’t compete for much,” Espinosa said.

The move would allow Putnam Science’s basketball team to compete in the New England championship. And the Wolfpack and Mustangs wouldn’t just be neighbors, but conference rivals.

“They told me when I got here that PSA and Hyde got a little rivalry,” Durham, a post-grad said. “It’s important to beat Hyde, so we did.”